The present invention relates to changeable signs. It is particularly directed to that type of display sign wherein a plurality of panels are arranged 'in line to provide a large display area upon which letters, figures or designs are mounted and displayed. The panels usually are composed of frames and sheets of suitable material associated with the frames. The sheet material used may be of an opaque or translucent type. Where translucent material is used, it is generally for the purpose of providing illumination of the displayy area from a source behind the panels. Such signs are referred `to as silhouette type because the letters or gures that are mounted in the illuminated area appear in silhouette in front of the panels.

It is the principal purpose of this invention to provide a sign construction wherein certain plastic materials such as those now commercially available in sheet form may serve as the display area of the sign and may also support the letter ordesign. The panels are so prepared and constructed that they may be placed in a regular sign box and removed therefrom individually. In the preferred form of the invention the several panels are each made up of a plurality of sections, the sections being bound together along their side edges and each section being adapted to carry a portion of the load of the letter or design. The several sections of the. panels may, in certain constructions, be removably mounted in a framework which is itself insertable in the sign box. The sections are so arranged in the respective panels that' the letter supporting portions thereof may be aligned lengthwise of the display area in order that letters or designs supported thereon can be moved from one panel to an adjacent panel with no difliculty.

It is preferable, in constructing the display panels, to so construct the letter and design carrying portions thereof as to avoid the .emission of light through any cracks between the sections of 4translucent material employed. To this end, the letter supporting means is so arranged that the joint between sections, where sections are used, is overlapped by the letter supporting means. V I t The present invention contemplates also a sign construction wherein the several panels are so arranged that they may be mounted on projecting edges around the display opening in the sign box by means of channels provided on the frame- 'Y-work of each panel.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a novel letter construction whereby rearwar'lly-extending projections are provided on the letters to extend beyond the planes of the rear edges thereof. This construction is particlarly advantageous inthe application of the letters to that type of construction Where the separate sheets in the sign panels are spaced apart so that the letter mounting means goes between the sheets.

f The invention further contemplates a novel letter construction wherein the front face of the letter is composed of a peripheral bevel and` an intermediate surface which is visible from all angles. Desirably,.this intermediate surface is concave so as to present a smooth surface that is easily painted or cleaned, in order to give a bright and clean-cut appearance under all conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear'more fully as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings and description'are illustrative only, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention except insofar as it is limited bythe claims. i

o In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a sign box illustrating a preferred form of display panel; Fig. 2 is a front View of one of the panels employed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan sectional view through a side edge of the panel shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a portion of the panel;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view of a portion of a sign box illustrating a modified form of panel;

Fig. 7 is a sectionall view taken on the line 'I-l of Fig. 6; l Fig. 8 is a plan sectional View taken on the line I--B of Fig. 6:

lFig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 7 o

Fig. 10 is a view in front elevation of the panel supporting frame utilized in the form of the'inventio shown in Figs. 6 and 7;

Figy 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the panel supporting frame;

Fig.v 12 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the construction of an individual panel;

Fig. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view illustrating the positioning of the several panel frames in a sign box;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the upper end construction of the uprights used in the panel supporting frame shown in Figs. and 1l; f

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken vertically through a sign box illustrating a modified cross bar construction for the frame shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line ls-ls of Fig; 15;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View illustrating a modified form of cross bar and sheet mounting;

Fig. 18 is a view in front elevation of aletter embodying the novel features hereinbefore referred to;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line I9-I9 of Fig. 18; l

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view Ltaken through a portion of the letter shown in Fig. 18 illustrating how letters of this character may be nested and stored for shipping;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken through a letter of the same general type as that shown i-n Fig. 18 and illustrating a modied mounting lug construction;

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 21, but illustrating a further modification of the mounting lug;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 2'2; l

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a form of device similar to that shown in Fig. 7, but withqmodications in the removable panel and letter support, and

Fig. 25 is aview similar to Fig. 24 illustrating a further' modification.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1-5 inclusive, the presen-t invention is shown as applied to a sign box I which may -have suitable illuminating devices such as lamps 2 mounted therein. It is customary in the art to which this invention applies to so mount and arrange the lamps 2 as to obtain a, substantially e'ven distribution of light throughout the interior of the sign box I. The sign box I is usually constructed of sheet metal and is provided with an upper channel 3 and a lower channel 4 at the front thereof. These channels are adapted to receive one or more display panels 5. The display panels are adapted to support a plurality of let ters, characters or designs 6 in order to convey a message of some sort. Some of the signs have the display panel of only suicient height to take a single row of the letters 6. However, in the principal use to which this device is put, namely, theater and show place marquee installation, the display panels are of sufficient height to employ more than one row or line of letters. The letters E are customarily made in several sizes, and the display panels carry letter supporting means 1 so arranged thereon as to enable the user of the sign to arrange the several letters or characters to display the desired message.

The display ypanel shown in Flg. 2' comprises upright channel members 8 and 9 and a multiplicityof separate sheets I0 mounted one upon the other between the channel members 8 and 9. The channel members 3 and 9 have their upper ends II joined by a cross channel I2 and their lower ends I3 joined by a cross channel I4 to hold the several sheets I0 together. As shown best in Figs. 1 and 3, each of the sheets I0 has a LTI flange projecting upwardly and outwardly at its upper edge. yThese flanges comprise the letter vtion I9 being left on the flange 1.

vided opposite the flange 1 so as to leave a recess I6 along the upper edges of the sheets I0. These recesses I6 receive the lower edges of the super'- posed sheets. It will be noted that the top sheet IIJa of each panel is simply a plain sheet devoid of flanges 1 and I5.

In the installation of the several panels 5, it is desirable that they be placed snugly against each other, and that the flanges 'I of one panel be aligned directly with the flanges 1 of the next adjacent panel so that the letters 6 can be shifted endwise from panel -to panel. In order to accomplish this result and at the same time bind the edges of the panels with the upright channels 8 and 9, the 'anges 1 and I 5 are cut away as shown at I1 and I8 in Figs. 3 and 4, a projecting por- 'I'he cutting away of the flanges 'I at I1 is also advantageous in providing for ready drainage of any rain that may fall on the uppersurface of the flange 1.

It will be noted that in the constructions thus far described the supporting means for the letters and characters isalways found directly upon the sheets which make up the panels: that is, there is no separate framework or supporting rod mounted independently of the sheets which make up the display surface. This is one advantage that arises from the employment of plastic materials, as contrasted to the ordinary sheet of glass. The plastic materials have suicient tensile strength to withstandthe load. Since the letter mounting means does not need to be made strong enough to act asa structural support for the sheets,it can be made much lighter and therefore less noticeable to the eye. -As the flanges i are of the same material as the sheets themselves, they, of course, do not interfere seriously with the smooth, unbroken appearance that is so desirable on the face of the sign.

Referring now to Figs. 6-14, inclusive, a modified form of the invention is shown in these gures. While the modified form of the invention utilizes plastic sheets as the display background, it is equally applicable to the utilization of. glass sheets because, in thev preferred form of this modification, each sheet is carried in a separate frame entirely independent of the other sheets and insertable and removable individually from the sign construction.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the sign box l' has its channels 3 and 4 somewhat wrider than is necessary for the box used in connection with the panels of Fig. 1. 'I'he panels are carried in panel supporting frames 21'. These panel supporting frames comprise a left-hand upright 28 and a' right-hand upright 29. These .uprights are connected by a plurality of cross bars 30 and each upright has a forwardly extending portion 3l thereon. The cross bars 30 are welded directly tothe flanges 3l. end frames 21 are provided with strips 32 which are welded to the portions 3l. The strip 32 is adapted to extend beyond the adjacentedge 33 of the sign box so as to block any light passage at this point. The strips 32 extend the full height of the frames 21,

In thearrangement of\'the several frames 21 within a sign box, as shown, the alternate frames can be removed. This is accomplished, as shown in Fig. 13, by making the frames with telescoping portions 34 and 35. The frame, as shown in Fig. 11, has lboth side edges provided with portions 35 which will nest within the portions 34 in the manner shown in Fig. 8. The portions 34 and 35 are constructed like those shown in my prior co-pending application Serial No, 263,704,

led March 23, 1939, for Signs, which has matured into Patent No. 2,284,626. The portions 34 and 35 are interlocked by suitable pins 36 which are also used to support tie bars 31 which extend to the back of the sign box The cross bars 30 ac t to support a plurality of removable sections 38. Each removable section comprises a sheet 39 of plastic material or glass either in translucent or opaque form. 'I'he periphery of the sheet 39 isbound in a rectangular framework comprising vertical channel strips 40 and horizontal metal strips 4| and 42. The vertical strips 40 are of simple channel construction and are soldered to the horizontal channel strips 4| and 42 at 43 and 44 (see Fig. 12). Thev lower strip 4| has a channel 45 facing upwardly to receive the sheet 39. Rearwardly of the channel 45 the strip 4| has a downwardly facing channel 46 which is adapted to bear on one ofthe cross bars 30. The upper channel strip 42 has a downwardly facing channel 41 which receives the upper edge of the sheet 39. This strip has two upwardly facing channels 48 and 49. The channel 48 is directly over the channel 41 and may be slightly wider, as illustrated in Fig. 12.

The channel 49, however, is in vertical alignment with the channel 46, but is somewhat deeper. The channel 49 is adapted to receive the lower edge of a cross bar- 30. The depth of the channel 49 is such that the entire section s can be lifted up vsufficiently to cause the channel 46 to clear the cross bar it is supported upon before the cross bar in channel 49 will reach the bottom of the channel. It is therefore possible 56 which are shaped to receive the lugs 50 and l.

^ of the bar` which comprises the base of the lower `simple channel member.

channel 59 is sloped inward so as to provide an adequate support for the lugs and 5|. Removablesheets 6| `of glass or plastic material are adapted'to seat in the channels 51 and 59.

"I'he channel 59 is deep enough to permit `raising of the sheets 6| out of the channel 51 so that they may be removed from the sign.

The cross bar 62 at the top of the uprights ,28 and 29 is of course only a simple inverted channel of suiilcient depth to permit the top sheets 6| to be removed. 'I'he bottom cross bar 63 is, a

I have shown the several sheets 6| as having peripheral bindings 64 in the form of thin metal channels. This, however, is done merely to protect the sheets, and may be dispensed with wherever the sheets are constructed of a material that will not chip or crack easily.

In Fig. 17 therexis a further modification which is quite similar to the modifications shown in Figs. 6-14 and Figs. 15 and 16 in that it provides for removably supporting the several sections which maire up the displaypart of the panel. In this form of the invention the uprights 28 and 29 are connected by-vertically spaced cross bars 65. These cross bars are plain, ilat strips which are welded to the uprights 28 and 29 in the same manner as the cross bars 30. In fact, the construction of the frame for the modification in Fig. 17 may be identical with that shown in Figs.

which are adapted to seat in the channels 48 of two vertically adjacent sections 38.

' It will be noted from Fig. 11 that the rear- 4wardly extending portions of the uprights 28 and 29 are cut away, asI indicated at 52and 53. 'Ihis is done in order that the frames may ffit down into the lower channel o thev sign box. At the upper ends of the uprights the rearwardly extending portions 34 and 35 are cut away. This construction isillustrated in Fig. 14'where one` of the portions 34 is shown as cut away and capped by means oi a cap 54. The cap 54 is .soldered in place so as to prevent light from passing downwardly through the portion 34. Above the portion 34 the upright 28 is provided with a horizontally extending liange l which is adapted to overlap the cut away portion oiE the adjacent -upright 29 and thus block the passage of light between them. This construction is quite similar to that shown in my co-pending application ereinbefore mentioned. ,It will be understood hat where the upper and lower channels of the sign box' are wide enough it is not necessary to cut away .the rearwardly extending portions of the uprights. Also, the framework used with the `removable sheets may be permanently afllxed to the sign box or mounted in other ways than 10 and l1. A plurality of sections 66 of translucent material, such as glass or the plastic materials hereinbefore referred to, are adapted to be removably supported by the cross bars 65. Each of the sections 66 is bound in a peripheral channel 61. This channel has upstanding spaced llugs 68 and 69 at the top thereof and depending spaced lugs 19 and 1| at the bottom thereof. The lugs 68 and 69 are adapted to receive one of the cross bars 65. 'Ihe lugs 10 and 1| are connected together, as indicated at 12, for a substantial distance below the sections 66 so as to make the projecting portions of the lugs 10 and 1| relatively short. 'I'hey receive one of the crossbars in the manner shown inFig. 17.

It is preferable, in making the construction shown in Fig. 17, to have the uprights at the f depth; The projections 10 and 1| may be formed in channels. The removable sheets permit access' tothe interior of the box with the framework kin place. v m

In Figs, '15 and 1,6of the drawings, there is shown a slightly modified form of construction wherein the special frame around the. sections 33 is not necessary. In this construction, the'uprights 28 and 29 are connected by"cross bars in the same manner. This provides a supporting portion 12 and two projections 10 and 1| -at each bottom end of a section 66. Similarly, the proiections 68 and 69 are found at each top end of a section 66. VIn order to blocl: the passage of light between the bars 65 and sections 66, shields 13 are mounted on spaced posts 14` that are pro- -vided on the cross b ars 65. These shields may be constructed of any suitable strip material, translucent or otherwise as desired. In mounting the letters or characters upon this type of construction, the cross bars 65 are utilized to support the characters. I have illustrated a bevelled letter 15 oi' the type shown in my prior patent hereinbefore mentioned with a pair of supporting lugs 16 and 'l1 hooked over the cross bars 65.

Referring now to Figs. 18-20 inclusive, there is illustrated a form of letter or character which is .particularly advantageous when used in connection with the disclosures in Figs. 1-5 inclusive and Figs. 6-13 inclusive. The letter construction comprises a body of sheet material, the periphery o1' which comprises a bevelled flange |00. The mainbody of the letter comprises a concave portion which is concave to a depth equal to the depth of the flange |00'. 'I'he supporting means for the letters is struck out from the concave portion |0| in such a fashion as to make no objectionable break in the visible surface of needed. The lower lugs |04 and I 05 are shown as struck out from the concave face |0I. The lugs |02, |03, |04 and |05 all extend at the same angle with respect to the plane of the letter. As

is received in the upper channel of a subjacent I cross bar. In cases where the height of opening in a sign box is not a multiple of the height of the sheets, a standard sheet may be trimmed at the bottom or top until it is of the proper height to fill in'at the top of the framework above a number of standard sheets.

In Fig. I show another form of molded plastic sheet or panel adapted to be mounted in shown in Fig. 20, these letters may be nested for storing and shipping, since the lug of one letter sharp, clean cut outlines which may be made to stand out boldly by usingr different colors on the flange portion |00 of the concave portion |0|. One edge of the flange portion |00 will be brought into sharp contrast with` the backgroundA on which it is displayed. Owing to the manner of providing the mounting, there need be no break whatsoever in the edge of the flange portion |00, the meeting line of the concave portion |0| and the flange portion |00 being a relatively sharp edge because the concave portion I0! can stand out boldly from the ange. 'Ihe concavity of the portion il makes it particularly easy to paint and to keep clean after installation. Furthermore, the combination of the bevelled edge |00 and the concave portion |0| is particularly advantageous Where the characters are made of a plastic material or material of low g tensile strength. The construction avoids the necessity of any reinforcing ribs because the concave portion and the flange portion brace each other sufficiently.

In Figs. 2l and 22 there are two modified forms of attaching means shown for the letter illustrated in Fig. 18. In Fig. 2l a simple lug |06 is provided at the base of the concave portion |0|. In Fig; 22 the base of the concave portion is thickened at |01, and this thickened portion is provided with a notch |08 which slopes downwardly and is adapted to be hooked over a cross bar or similar mounting device of a sign.

In Fig. 24 there is shown a form of molded removable sheet construction that is particularly Aadvantageous in the use of plastics.

cross bar, while the lower edge |2| of that sheet 75 the frame work shown in Figs. 7-11, inclusive. In this form, the panel |22 is pan shaped and has separated grooves |23 and |24 at its top. The groove |23 is adapted to engage a cross bar 30 of the framework. The groove |24 is adapted t0 support a letter such as the letter 6b. The lower edge of the panel |22 has a groove |25 adapted to receive the upper part of a subjacent cross bar 30.

The structures shown in Figs. 24 and 25 are, of course, applicable to the framework comprising uprights and cross bars, whether the framework be permanently or removably mounted on the sign box. The removable panel directly carries the letters without the use of any metal periphery.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and advantages of the device shown herein will be apparent to those skilled in this art. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a changeable display sign, a panel supporting frame comprising vertical members and spaced horizontal members connecting said vertical members, said horizontallmembers comprising upwardly and downwardly facing panel receiving channels and a downwardly sloping letter receiving channel disposed between said channels, panels removably mounted on said horizontal members, and letter units adapted to engage said letter receiving channels.

2. In a changeable display sign, a panel supporting frame comprising vertical members and spaced horizontal members connecting said ver` tical members, said horizontal members comprising upwardly and downwardly facing panel receiving channels anda downwardly sloping letter receiving channel disposed between said channels, panels removably mounted on said horizontal members, and letter units adapted to engage said letter-receiving channels, said frame and panels being in vertical alignment.

5. Ina changeable display sign, a combination including a panel'supporting frame, horizontal bars in said frame, channeled panel frames removably mounted in said panel supporting frame, said channeled panel frames comprising vertical members and horizontal members having panel mounting channels, said horizontal members having supporting frame engaging channels whereby said panel frames are removably mounted on said horizontal bars in said supporting frame, panels mounted in said channeled frames, said panels being vertically spaced to provide horizontally extending letter carrying recesses between said panels.

6. In a changeable display sign, a combination including a panel supporting frame, horizontal bars in said frame, channeled panel frames removably mounted in said panel'supporting frame,

said channeled panel frames comprising vertical members and horizontal members having panel mounting channels, said horizontal members having supporting frame engaging` channels whereby said panel frames are removably mounted on said horizontal bars in said supporting frame, the upper horizontal members of each panel frame being provided with letter rec eiving channels,y and panels mounted on said panel frames.

7. In a changeable display sign, letter units` r side of said concave portion,

10. In a changeable display sign, an illuminated sign box having an opening in a side thereof and a display mounting in said opening, said display mounting comprising panel supporting frames mounted side by` side on said box at said opening, individual translucent panels mvably mounted in said frames for movement into and the backs thereof for engagement in said recesses. 11. In a changeable display sign, a combination .including a panel supporting frame comprising vertical bars and horizontal bars connecting said vertical bars, translucent panels mounted one above another between said vertical bars, means carried by said vertical bars holdingthe panels in place, said panels having letter unit supporting portions at the top edges thereof, and letter unitsadapted to engage said supporting portions.

12. In a changeable display sign, a combination including a panel supporting frame comprising vertical bars and horizontal bars connecting said vertical bars, translucent panels mounted one above another between said vertical bars, said horizontal bars having means removably securing said panels in place, said panels having letter unit supporting portions integral therewith, said portions comprising vertically spaced ledges extending substantially the width of said panel, and letter units adapted to engage said supporting portions.

13. In a changeable display sign, a combination including a panel supporting frame comprising vertical bars and horizontal bars connecting said vertical bars, translucent panelsl mounted one above another between said vertical bars, said horizontal bars having means removably securing said panels in place, said panels having letter unit supporting portions integral therewith, said portions being made of the same translucent material as said panels and comprising a horizontal projection from the face of said panel and extending substantially the width o f said panel, and letter units adapted to engage said supporting portions.

14. In a changeable display sign, an illuminated sign box having an opening in a side thereof and va display mounting in said opening, said display mounting comprising panel supporting frames mounted side by side on said box at said opening,

` said frames comprising spaced vertical bars and out of position to close said opening whereby an individual panel may be opened for access to a particular part of the sign box, said panel frames having means cooperating with the panels in closed position to prevent accidental opening of the panels, said display mounting having hori zontally running letter mounting recesses in theA frontthereof, and sign letters having rearwardly and downwardly extending mounting means on vertically spaced horizontal bars connecting-said vertical bars, individual' translucent panels removably mounted in said frames for movement rearwardly into 'and forwardly out of position to close openings defined by said vertical bars and said horizontal bars whereby an individual panel may be opened and removed for access to a particular part of the sign box with vertically and horizontally adjacent panels remaining in place, the removable panels and certain of said bars having cooperating means to retain a removable panel in place against accidental opening, said display mounting .having horizontally running letter mounting means vertically spaced to conform to the vertical spacing of said horizontal bars, and sign letters having supporting means for engagement with said letter mounting means.